Continuous miner having oscillating rotary cutter means with spirally arranged cutters

ABSTRACT

A continuous miner comprising a chassis which mounts a vertically movable boom supporting a pair of cutter carriers continuously laterally oscillated towards and away from each other during the normal operation of the machine. Rotatably driven cutter means are carried by the forward end of each carrier, the cutter means each including cutters disposed in a spiral pattern whereby, during the operation of the machine with only a single cutter means rotatably driven in engagement with a sidewall or rib, the spiral pattern of the cutters of such cutter means tends to draw the cutter means into the wall.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Einar M. Arentzen 3,141,703 7/1964 Gonski 299/71 Charleroi, Pa. 3,302,974 2/1967 l-Ilinsky 299/71 X a?? 1970 Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Patented oct- 1971 Atiggjiys Carl R Horten, David W. Tibbott and Robert R. [73] Assignee Lee-Norse Company Charleroi, Pa.

[54] CONTINUOUS MINER HAVING OSCILLATING ROTARY CUTTER MEANS wl'm SPIRALLY ARRANGED CUTTERS ABSTRACT: continuous miner compris ng a chassis which 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. mounts a vertically movable boom supporting a pair of cutter carriers continuously laterally oscillated towards and away [52] US. Cl 299/71, from each other during the normal opex-ation f the machine. 299/87 Rotatably driven cutter means are carried by the forward end [51] Int. Cl EZlc 27/24 f each cal-tier, the cummeans each including cutters [50] Field of Search 299/71 disposed in a Spiral pattern whereby, during the operation f the machine with only a single cutter means rotatably driven [56] Rderences (med in engagement with a sidewall or rib, the spiral pattern of the UNITED STATES PATENTS cutters of such cutter means tends to draw the cutter means 3,128,998 4/1964 Sibley 299/71 X into the wall.

PATENTED B 12 I971 3.612.610

INVENTOR E/NAR M. ARE/V 725' N ka/Z ATTORNEY 1 conrmuous MINER HAVING oscnm'rmo ROTARY CU'I'I'ER MEANS'WITH SPIRALLY ARRANGED CUTTERS The present inventionrelates to mining machines and more particularly to continuous miners having rotatably driven cutter means mounted on carriers which are continuously laterally oscillated towards and away from each other during the normal operation of the machine.

Mining machines of this general type are normally employed for the mining of mineralssuchas coal and'are, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,695,164; 3,309,145; 3,310,347; and 3,353,871, all assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The cutter arrangements conventionally employed in the cutter means of these mining machines are generally satisfactory during the mining or cutting of a straight shaft or cut. However, during the commencement of a cross-shaft or cut (i.e., a shaft or cut mined at an angle to a previously mined shafi containing the mining machine) when only the cutters of the cutter means of a single'carrier may be-in'engagement with the wall, these conventional cutter arrangementsar'e believed to be objectionable and to undesirably resist the initiation'of the cross-shaft. More particularly, it is believed that, during the outstroke or outswing of the carriers with only the cutters of the cutter means of a single carrier in engagement with the wall, conventional arrangements of such cutters inherently tend to resist the fonnation of the cut.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mining machine of the aforedescribed type with cutter; means which include cutters arranged in a pattern particularly adapted to facilitate the initiation of a cross-shaft or cut;

Another object of the invention is to provide a mining machine of the aforedescribed type-withcutter means which include cutters arranged in a pattern whereby, during the machineoperationwith only the cutters ofthe cutter means of a single carrier engaged with a wall, thereisa tendency to draw. such cutter means into the wall.

Another object is to provide a mining machine of the aforedescribed type which in operatioritends to clean loose cut material out of the cut.

These objects, and those other objects and advantages of the invention which will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, are attained by a mining machine which may comprise a chassis, a boom connected tothe forward end of the chassis for vertical movement relative to the chassis, a pair of carriers at their rearward ends supported. on the boom adjacent opposite sides of the centerline of the machine for lateral oscillating movement towards-and away from each other, cutter drums rotatably carried by the forward ends of the carriers for rotation about axes transverseto the carriers, motor means connected to the cutter drums for rotatably driving the cutter drums about their said axes, motor means connected to the carriers for laterally oscillating the carriers towards-and-away from each other continuously during the normal operation of the machine such-that'thecutter drums are oscillated towards'and-away from each other continuously during the normal operation of the-machine, spiral supports mounted on the cutter drums operable during rotation of the cutter drums for directing cut material towards the machine centerline, and cutters carried by the spiral supporting means disposed in the spiral patterns of the spiral supports such that, during operation of the machine with only the cutters of one carrier rotatably in engagement with a wall, the spiral pattern of such cutters tends to draw such cutters'into the wall.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial elevational view illustrating the forward end of a mining machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top or plan viewillustrating the for ward end of the mining machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view' illustrating the cutters of one of the cutter means ofthe mining machine of-FIGS 4 Land 2;,and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating such mining machine during the commencement of a cross cut.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates the forward end of a mining machine or continuous miner designated generally as 10 which, generally considered, is of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,871 issued Nov. 21, 1967 to E. M. Arentzen, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The mining machine 10 comprises a mobile, self-- propelled-chassis 12 ground mounted on crawlers l4 and at its forward end has a gathering head 16 which isoperatively associated with'the usual conveyor 18 conveying cut or mined material from the machine forward end.

A boom or support 20 is connected to the forward end of the chassis 12 for vertical movement relative tothe chassis 12, the boom 20 being in the conventional manner raised and lowered by a pair of hydraulically operated cylinder-andpiston motors each designated as 22. A pair of cutter carriers or arms 24 are at their rearward ends supported on the boom 20 for lateral oscillating movement towards and away from each other and project forwardly from the boom 20, the carriers 24 being in the conventional manner mounted adjacent opposite sides of the centerline of the machine 10. The carriers 24 are-laterally oscillated'towards and away from each other continuously during the normal operation of the machine 10 by a motor means which, although shown for the purposes of illustration as being a hydraulic cylinder-andpiston motor 26 located between the carriers 24 and connected thereto by links 28, could alternatively be of any other suitable conventional construction and location and otherwise suitably connected to the carriers 24.

The forward end of each carrier 24 includes a gear casing 30-which'supports a cutter means designated generally as 32, whereby during the lateral'oscillation of the carriers 24 the cutter means 32 are oscillated towards and away from each other. The cutter means 32 are of the rotary type; and during the normal operation of the machine 10 both cutter means-32 are continuously rotatably driven (in the direction of r the arrow shown in FIG. 3): by individual drive means or motors 34 connected thereto in'the conventional manner. Further details of the aforedescribed illustrated construction of the mining machine 10 can, if desired, be obtained from the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,87l.

In accordance with the present invention, the cutter means 32 of each carrier 24 includes cutters disposedin a spiral pattern such-that, during the operation of the machine 10 with only the cutter means 32of'one carrier 24 rotatably driven'in engagement with the sidewall or rib, the spiral pattern of the cutters of such cutter means-32 tends to draw the latter into the wall. More particularly, as will be seen from FIG. 3 wherein the cutter means 32 mounted on the carrier 24 at the right-handside (as viewed'in FIG. 2) of the machine 10 has been shown enlarged for the purposes of illustration, the cutter means 32 on such carrier 24 comprises a pair of rotatable cutter drums, one located at each side of the gear casing 30-on such carrier 24, connected to a rotatable supporttnot shown) which is located within such gear casing 30 and gear connected'to the motor34 on the same side of the machine 10." The drums 36, as shown in FIGS. I through 3, are mounted for rotation about axes transverse to the carriers 24 and each fixedly carry a plurality of spiral supports 38 which extend circumferentiallyaround their respective drum 36 substantially throughout thelength thereof 36 in longitudinally overlapping relationship. Such spiral supports 38 are arranged whereby, when the cutter means 32 is rotatably driven in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3, the supports 38 tend to direct or convey cut material towards the longitudinal centerline of the machine 10. At intervals along the length of each of the spiral supports 38, cutters or cutter elements 40 are fixedly mounted i on the crest thereof, whereby such cutters 40 on each spiral support 38 are disposed in the spiral pattern corresponding to the spiral of such support 38. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the drums 36 of the cutter means 32 carry gage or other cutters 42 for cutting adjacent their sides.

The cutter means 32 mounted on the carrier 24 at the lefthand side (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the machine isof construction identical to the right-hand side cutter means 32 depicted in FIG. 3 excepting only that the spiral supports 38 on the drums of such first-mentioned cutter means 32 are mounted oppositely to the mounting of the FIG. 3 spiral supports 38. The left-hand side cutter means 32 is rotatably driven by the motor 34 on the left-hand side of the machine 10 in the same rotary direction as the right-hand cutter means 32;

v and, due to the aforedescribed arrangement of the spiral supports 38 of the left-hand cutter means 32 opposite to those of the right-hand cutter means 32, it will be seen that the firstmentioned spiral supports 38 during the rotation of the lefthand cutter means 32 also tend to direct or convey cut material towards the longitudinal centerline of the machine 10.

In the operation of the machine 10 with the cutter means 32 of both carriers 24 being rotatably driven in engagement with a face and the carriers 24 continuously laterally oscillated (i.e., as during the mining of a straight shaft or cut), the opposite arrangement of the spirals of the spiral supports 38 (and carried cutters 40) on the carriers 24 substantially counteract each other to prevent any substantial tendency to thereby draw the cutter means 32 into the cut. The spiral supports 38 do, however, serve to direct the cut material towards the longitudinal centerline of the machine and clean the out being formed.

When, however, the machine 10 is being operated to mine a shaft or cut at an angle to a shaft containing the machine 10, only the cutters of the cutter means 32 on a single carrier 24 are rotatably driven and laterally oscillated against the sidewall or rib. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, during the commencement of a crosscut to the left of a mined shaft only the left-hand cutter means 32 engaged with the wall. Hence, at this time, the spiral arrangement of the cutters 40 engaging the wall tends to draw their cutter means 32 into the wall to facilitate the commencement of the crosscut. The spiral supports 38 carrying said engaging cutters 40, of course, continue to serve to clean out the cut and direct the cut material towards the centerline of the machine 10.

In view of the aforegoing, it will be seen that the invention provides new and improved means for accomplishing all of the aforementionedobjects and advantages. It will be understood, however, that, although only a single embodiment of the .invention has been illustrated and hereinbefore specifically described, the invention is not limited merely to this single embodiment, but rather contemplates other embodiments and variations employing its teachings.

I claim:

l. A mining machine comprising a chassis, a boom connected to the forward end of said chassis for vertical movement relative tosaid chassis, a pair of carriers at their rearward ends supported on said boom adjacent opposite sides of the centerline of the machine for lateral oscillating movement towards-and-away from each other, cutter drums rotatably carried by the forward ends of said carriers for rotation about axes transverse to said carriers, motor means connected to said cutter drums for rotatably driving said cutter drums about their said axes, motor means connected to said carriers for laterally oscillating said carriers towards-and-away from each other continuously during the normal operation of the machine such that said cutter drums are oscillated towardsand-away from each other continuously during the normal operation of the machine, spiral supports mounted on said cutter drums operable during rotation of said cutter drums for directing cut material towards the machine centerline, and cutters carried by said spiral supports disposed in the spiral patterns of said spiral supports such that, during operation of the machine with only the cutters of one carrier rotatably driven in engagement with a wall, the spiral pattern of such cutters tends to draw such cutters into the wall.

2. A mining machine according to claim 1, wherein the spiral supports on each cutter drum extend therearound substantially throughout the length of the drum, and said drums also carry other cutters for cutting adjacent the sides of the drums.

3. A mining machine according to claim 1, wherein each 

1. A mining machine comprising a chassis, a boom connected to the forward end of said chassis for vertical movement relative to said chassis, a pair of carriers at their rearward ends supported on said boom adjacent opposite sides of the centerline of the machine for lateral oscillating movement towards-and-away from each other, cutter drums rotatably carried by the forward ends of said carriers for rotation about axes transverse to said carriers, motor means connected to said cutter drums for rotatably driving said cutter drums about their said axes, motor means connected to said carriers for laterally oscillating said carriers towards-and-away from each other continuously during the normal operation of the machine such that said cutter drums are oscillated towards-and-away from each other continuously during the normal operation of the machine, spiral supports mounted on said cutter drums operable during rotation of said cutter drums for directing cut material towards the machine centerline, and cutters carried by said spiral supports disposed in the spiral patterns of said spiral supports such that, during operation of the machine with only the cutters of one carrier rotatably driven in engagement with a wall, the spiral pattern of such cutters tends to draw such cutters into the wall.
 2. A mining machine according to claim 1, wherein the spiral supports on each cutter drum extend therearound substantially throughout the length of the drum, and said drums also carry other cutters for cutting adjacent the sides of the drums.
 3. A mining machine according to claim 1, wherein each cutter drum carries a plurality of said spiral supports, the spiral supports on each cutter drum being mounted to extend circumferentially therearound substantially throughout the length of the cutter drum in longitudinally overlapping relationship, and other cutters are mounted on each cutter drum for cutting adjacent the sides thereof. 